Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native
Last updated
Data Coverage 4 of 6 dimensions
Quick Facts
Height
10 ft
Spread
9 ft
Growth Rate
Moderate
Light
Full Sun
Soil
Wet Tolerant
Water
High
Hardiness
Zone Zones 5b–9b
Bloom Time
April
Fall Color
Orange, red, scarlet, yellow
Origin
from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Minnesota
Phenological Calendar
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Mar 30, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 1,116 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 149 |
| Seattle / UW | 1,112 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 153 |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 1,049 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 217 |
| Kent / Auburn | 1,048 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 217 |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,041 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 224 |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,017 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 248 |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,012 | Pre-season | Bloom start | 253 |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| Bud break BBCH 07 | — | Feb 15-Mar 15 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | — | Mar 1-Apr 1 |
| ○ Bloom start BBCH 61 NEXT | 1265 | Apr 1-Apr 30 est. Apr 11 (forecast) |
| Full bloom BBCH 65 | 1580 | — est. Apr 27 (avg) |
| Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69 | — | Apr 15-May 15 |
| Fruit/seed development BBCH 71 | — | Jun 1-Aug 31 |
| Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85 | — | Sep 1-Nov 30 |
| Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93 | — | Oct 1-Nov 15 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | — | Nov 15-Feb 28 |
Range: 815–979 GDD₃₂
(6yr)
GDD = Growing Degree Days (base 32°F, Jan 1 start). Why base 32? Source GDD₅₀ thresholds from Herms 2004 (OSU, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio) and UMD IPMnet (Gill & Klick, mid-Atlantic), converted to GDD₃₂ via Kent bloom-date mapping. Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Mar 30, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Apr 15, 2026, then climate normals.
Cultivars (1)
'Brilliantissima'
Common name: Brilliant Red Chokeberry; Mature height: 6–8 ft